A Computer Based Laboratory to Enhance Statistical Reasoningin Undergraduate Psychology Courses

开发一个以计算机为基础的统计实验室，以支持教学方案，将使学生能够主动学习统计推理技能。目的是改善学生在统计推理的三个关键领域的教育：(1)统计推理和分析的概念基础；(2)为什么统计是研究过程的必要组成部分；(3)实际决策对统计结果的影响。该实验室将提供十门心理学课程，包括研究方法、行为科学统计学和八门高级专题研究课程。该实验室支持的学习活动基于计算机代数系统Maple和计算机统计软件包SPSSx。Maple将通过创建一个动态的学习环境来帮助实现前两个目标，在这种环境中，抽象的统计概念被可视化地呈现出来。SPSSx将帮助实现第三个目标，为教师提供定期机会，帮助学生了解心理学研究的特点如何影响统计分析的结果。

The development of a computer-based statistics laboratory to support an instructional program will allow students to actively learn statistical reasoning skills. The objective is to improve the education of students in three areas crucial for statistical reasoning: (1) the conceptual basis for statistical reasoning and analysis; (2) why statistics are a necessary part of the research process; and (3) the impact of practical decisions on statistical outcomes. The laboratory will serve ten psychology courses, including Research Methods, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, and eight upper-level Topical Research courses. The learning activities supported by the laboratory are based upon Maple, a computer algebra system, and SPSSx, a computer statistics package. Maple will help address the first two objectives by creating a dynamic learning environment in which abstract statistical concepts are represented visually. SPSSx will help address the third objective by providing regular occasions for instructors to help students understand how the characteristics of psychological research affect the results of statistical analyses.